The Second Picard Trailer is Sci-Fi Nostalgia Done Right

Set a course for the feels, maximum warp.

CBS just released a new trailer for the upcoming Star Trek: Picard series, and if it doesn’t hit you in the feels, then I might need to question if you were ever a Star Trek fan in the first place. (I’m only half-joking… maybe.) The appearance of Riker and Troi could be written off as mere fan service, but the scenes themselves are so full of warmth and affection. (I might’ve gotten a little teary-eyed during the Picard/​Riker interaction on the dock.)

I’m reminded of one of my favorite Next Generation episodes: ​“Relics” from season six. The episode features the legendary Montgomery Scott, and while that could’ve been nothing more than pandering to fans, the episode is actually a thoughtful rumination on aging, regret, and nostalgia. I’m not the only one who feels that way; ​“Relics” is widely considered one of the best Next Generation episodes of all time. At the very least, it contains one of my absolute favorite Next Generation scenes, as Scotty and Picard reminisce on the holodeck.

Here’s hoping that Picard achieves something similar. The series begins streaming on CBS All Access on January 23, and while it could turn out to be a disappointment, everything I’ve seen so far indicates that CBS has done right by Jean-Luc. It’s so nice to see Picard, Data, Riker, Troi et al. again, and to see some good ol’ fashioned Star Trek optimism and idealism.